Ventura Water is pleased to present our 2021 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This annual water quality report provides a snap shot of where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. Every year water quality staff tests water for several hundred chemical compounds at multiple points in the distribution system, as well as in our treatment plants, watersheds and reservoirs. We are committed to delivering a safe and dependable supply of drinking water that meets

or exceeds all drinking water quality and health standards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On behalf of the entire staff, thank you for partnering with us to protect and preserve our local water resources.

Sincerely,

SUSAN RUNGREN

General Manager

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Want to get involved?

Regularly scheduled Water Commission meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. A public comment period is held during each meeting.

Visit www.venturawater.net and click on the Water Commission Button for agendas and minutes.

OUR WATER SOURCES

Ventura is one of the largest cities in Southern California that relies exclusively on local water supplies. We manage our water portfolio of three distinct sources based on the availability

from each source.

VENTURA RIVER

Groundwater under the influence of Surface Water

Located near Foster Park, this water primarily services West & Midtown Ventura.

CASITAS

Purchased Treated Surface Water

Originating from Lake Casitas, this water primarily services West & Midtown Ventura.

GROUNDWATER BASINS

COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)

Ventura’s water supply meets all stringent state and federal drinking water requirements. COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water and will not affect water supply. In adherence to California Drinking Water Standards Ventura Water’s treatment processes includes membrane filtration and disinfection which remove and kill 99.99% of viruses, including COVID-19, bacteria and other pathogens. Ventura Water owns and operates a full scale, State- certified laboratory and also uses outside State-certified labs to monitor water quality.

For more water quality information on COVID -19 visit:

https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater

WATER QUALITY FLUSHING NO-DES

The City’s water service area is a complex system of more than 390 miles of pipelines with a total storage capacity of approximately 52 million gallons in 32 tanks and reservoirs providing water to residents and businesses. Water main flushing is a necessary part of operating and maintaining a drinking water distribution system to ensure high quality drinking water.

Routine maintenance is required to:

• Maintain water quality
• Clean water mains
• Maintain proper distribution operation
• Flush dead ends
• Maximize pipe lifespan
• Conduct fire flow tests

To save water, Ventura Water invested in a state-of-the-art flushing unit called the NO-DES (Neutral Output Discharge Elimination System) truck. The unit filters and recirculates water within the distribution system, saving thousands of gallons of clean drinking water from flushing to residential streets.

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EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791)

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water)

include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agriculture and livestock operations and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals that may be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural applications, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Ventura Water is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at: http://www.epa.gov/lead

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Division of Drinking Water (DDW) prescribe regulations that limit the number of contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS

or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791

Ventura Water conducted a Source Water Assessment (DSWAP) in 2013 for each of the drinking water sources serving the Ventura Water system. Sources in this system are considered most vulnerable to the following activities: gas stations, automobiles repair shops, sewer collection systems, and metal manufacturing. Contaminants associated with these activities have not been detected in the water supply.

A copy of the assessment may be viewed at:

SWRCB, DDW Santa Barbara District Office

1180 Eugenia Place, Suite 200, Carpinteria, CA 93013

You may request a summary

of the assessment by contacting:

SWRCB, DDW Santa Barbara District Office at (805) 566-1326

Ventura’s Water Quality Summary 2020

Only water quality constituents detected by laboratory testing appear in the chart.

USING DATA COLLECTED IN 2020 UNLESS NOTED

AESTHETIC STANDARDS

WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS

Alkalinity, Total

Calcium

Orthophosphate (PO4)

pH

Specific Conductance

Turbidity

USEPA UCMR4 -

HALOACETIC ACID GROUPS (HAAS)

5 HAAs (HAA5)

6 Brominated HAAs (HAA6Br)

9 HAAs (HAA9)

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

Bromide

USEPA UCMR4 -

ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANTS

Manganese